Ballysax mission for Derby fancy

Macarthur, second-favourite for the Vodafone Derby with most bookmakers, makes his seasonal reappearance in the Group Three P.W.McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown tomorrow.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge, who has been well supported in recent weeks for the Epsom Classic, will be joined in the line-up by stablemates Anton Chekov and The Ethiopian.

Jim Bolger’s Creachadoir, winner of the 2000 Guineas Trial over a mile at Leopardstown, also takes his chance.

The in-form Kevin Prendergast relies on Mores Wells, a promising winner of a maiden two weeks ago, while Frank Ennis runs Ferneley, third in the Futurity Stakes behind Teofilo as a juvenile.

John Oxx has pitched the filly Hasanka in against the colts after she won a Cork maiden by a length on her only start as a two-year-old.

Oxx said: “There’s a shortage of races for a filly like her at this time of the year. We’ve no option but to take on the colts as we want to run her over a little bit of distance.

“The Ballysax is a tough race. Traditionally in recent years it’s been fought out by very good horses and it’s a tough assignment for her.

“I’d have preferred something a little gentler, but she’s ready to run. I think she’ll run a good race, but it’s a tough starting point.”

The Currabeg trainer admitted the Aga Khan’s filly had been a little slow coming to hand this spring.

“We had a good winter with her and she’s a nice filly, but she’s been a little slow to come to hand this spring,” he went on.

“She’s looking well now and has done a reasonable amount of work. We haven’t been too hard on her because she’s been a bit slow to thrive.

“We’re well into April now and we’d like to get her on the track and I think she’s done enough to appear. We are hoping for a nice run, but hopefully she’ll improve now over the next couple of months.”

Mister Castlefield and Summit Surge complete the nine-runner field.